Self-winding clock.



N. FRIEDMAN.

SELF -WINDING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 11123.20, 1912.

Papented Mar. 3l, l9\14. n

UNITED STATES SELF-WIND Specification of Application filed April 20,

ing a predetermined tension of the main spring of the. clock, the parts being so constructetharranged and operated as to eliminate. the ditliculties now met with in clocks of this character,

.Another object of my invention is to pro-v vide a self-winding clock which may be operated by an ordinary high voltage lighting current with perfect safety and utmost ac` ouracy.

)L practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 represents in front elevation, partlyv in section, a clock works with my invention applied thereto, the parts being shown in the positions which they assume when the elect-romagnet is denergized. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section showing the parts in the position which they assume when the electromagoet is energized. Fig. 4 is a detail section showing the means for. adjusting the spring Contact arm. Fig. 5 is a section through the main spring arbor, showing' the switch for making and breaking the electric circuit, on an enlarged scale. Fig. (l is an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. 7 a detail view Showing the pawl and ratchet connection between the main spring arbor, the winding lever and the clock frame. Fig. S is a detail section taken from front to rear, through the clock works atthe main spring arbor, and Fig. 9 is a view in perspective ot the switch.

rllhe clock 'traine comprises the Jfront and back plates l and 2, the bottom plate 3. and the spacing posts 4. 'lhe main spring 5 connects its arbor (i and the` gear wheel 7 ot the eloekwvorks in the usual manner, the

gear wheel i being loosely mounted on the main spring arbor. 'This main spring 5 is of suiiieient length to insure the ruiming of PATENT OFFICE.

or NEW YORK, N. Y.

ine CLOCK.

Letters Patent Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

1912. serial No. 692.034.

mounted on the main spring arbor 6. The

the main spring arbor G, and a spring pawl 1o carried by the winding lever serves to lever is oseillated to wind the main spring 5 up to a predetermined tension and 1naintain it at such tension. )L retaining pai'vl 1% carried by the clock frame engages the ratchet wheel :tor preventing its reverse movement.

Jin electromagnet 15 of the solenoid type, is provided with a projecting screw-thread ed end'for its'lining tube 16, to removably secure the magnet to the bottom plate 3 of the clot-l; Jtrame. The insulated top of the magnet bears against the bottoms'of the front and back plates 1 and 2 of the clock 'traine when the. magnetis screwed up into its position, thus truing the magnet and holding it rigidly in its trued position.

The armature 17 ot' the electromagnet 15, is suspended from the winding lever 9, by means of a cord 18.y which winds into and unwinds from'the circumferential groove 10,. as the lever is oseillated. A. weight 15 is suspended from the other'side otthe winding lever 9. by means of a cord Q0, which also winds into and unwinds fron; the circm'nferential groove 10. The weight l) is sultieient to rock the lever 9 and thereby litt the armature 17. when the electromagnet is deiinergiaed. By forming the winding lever 9 in the shape. of a wheel. tlm; points ot engagement of the cords 1S and Q0, with the lever are kept ata constant distance trom the avis ot the lever as the lever is oseillated.

The hub S ol? the winding lever il. has fixed thereon a switch comprising' an insulated member Q1 and a conducting member spring Contact arm of conducting material is adiustably secured to a binding posi Q4 on an insulated plate secured to the back plate Q. at one side of the, clock wia-lts trame. This spring contact arm Il is connected to alsource of electrical rotate the arbor step by step' as the winding hub l1 on the ratchet wheel 12, is fixed' to,`

Cyl

not shown herein, through a wire 26. The

upwardly turned end 27 of the spring contact arm 23, is arranged to alternately engage the insulated member 21 and the conducting member 22 of the switch, the tension on. the contact arm 23 being such that it tends to swing the free end 27 .thereof laterally and radially toward the, ma'in spring arbor 6, The conducting member 22 is provided .with a track 28 on its periphery along which the free end 27 of the contact arm 23 travels', as the switch is moving in its reverse direction. The insulated mein-v ber 21 is provided with a track 29 and a retaining wall 3G, along which the free end '27 of the contact arm travels when the switch is moving in its forward direction. g

The arrangement of the parts is such that the free end 27 of the Contact arm will snap radially toward the main spring arbor from the track 29, on to the track 23, when the switch reaches the limit in its forward movement, and will snap laterally from the track 28 to the track 29, when the switch reaches the' limit in its reverse direction. A partition wall 30* is formed on the insulated member 2l, between the tracks 23 and 29, for guiding the free end of the contact arm 23 along the said tracks intermediate the ends thereof.

The clock works frame is connected to the source of electrical energythrough the tubular core 16 of the electromagnet itself, the wire 31, the resistance 32, the fusible connection 33, the spring arm 34, and wire A Wire 36 also connects the clock frame with the resistance 32, the resistance 32 and the binding post 37 for connecting the spring arm 34 with the wire 35 being mounted upon the insulated plate 25 hereinbefore re-.

ierred to.

The resistance 32, usually of graphite, serves to prevent sparking between the spring contact arm 23 and the conducting member 22 of the switch. r)The fusible connection 33 vbetween the resistance 32 and the spring arm 34, will automatically release the arm 34 and thus break the circuit when the resistance 32 gets so hot as to melt this fusible connection. This could be caused by some accident or disarrangement whichl would prevent the switch from working properly and permitthe current to circulate through lthe electromagnet and resistance 32 without interruption for a short period. This melting of the fusible connection 33 will save the other parts of the apparatus from injury.

A stop 38 carried by the front plate 1 of the clock works frame, coacts with a projection 33 on the rim of the winding lever 9, for limiting the rotary movement of the winding lever should the electric current be cut oft' through some accident. `r1"liis stdp 33 and Lontano the projection 394are so located with respect to each other that the armature 17 is held within the effective lield of the electromagnet, so that when the electric current is reestablished, the movement of the armature can be controlled by said electromagnet.

The spring Contact arm 23 is adjusted longitudinally as follows. The arm 23 is pro vided at its inner end with a screw-threaded portion 40 extended through the binding post 24. Lock nuts 41, 42, engage said screw-threaded end 40 of the contact arm upon opposite sides of the post 24. The arm 23 vis held against rotative movement by means of a set screw 43.

lnoperation, presuppose the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1 andA 2 of the drawings. The free end 27 of the spring Contact arm 23 has just snapped off the track 29 of the insulated member 21 onto the track 28 of the conducting member 22. This will complete the circuit and will cause the energization of the clectromagnet 15. The energization of the electromagnet will draw the armature 17 downwardly, thereby moving the winding lever and switch in a reverse direction and raising the lweight 19. The free end 27 of the spring contact arm 23 will travel along the track 28 of the conducting member during this reverse movement of the lever and switch, until the end of the partition wall 30 is reached, when the free end of the contact arm will snap back from the track 23 of the conducting member, on to the track 29 of the insulated member. Thiswill break the circuit and causethe denergization of the electromagnet '15, thus permitting the weight to rotate the winding lever and cause the free end of the spring contact arm to travel along the track 29, until it again snaps radially ofi' the track 29 on to the track 28, when the cycle of operations will be repeated. 1f the current is cut olf for a considerable period, the clock will keep on running, being driven by the tension of the main spring 4. When the current is on again, the winding lever will be repeatedly oscillated until the main spring is wound up to the desired tension.

Some of the advantages obtained by the attachment herein described are the provision of a very few moving parts for accomplishing the result desired; a very strong and simple switch which is not liable to'get out of order; a noiseless mechanism; a sliding contact between the switch and its conf tact arm tending to keep the Contact surfaces clean; 'the maintenance of a predetermined tension on the'main spring for insuring an accurate running of the clock works; a small electrical current consumption; an

vabsolute safe apparatus because of the provision for preventing over-heating `of the electromagnet; and the provision of `means for 4preventing sparking`between the switch and contact arm irrespective of the strength 'Y of the electric current used.

What I claim is:

v1. An electrically controlled clock winding mechanism including in combination a frame, a main spring winding lever,'me chanical and electrical means for oscillating the lever, a switch mounted on'the hub of the lever, comprising insulated and conducting members having separated tracks, the

insulated member having a retaining wall anda partition wall both projecting radially beyond both tracks, and a spring contact arm arranged to travel back along oney of saidv tracks in engagement with said retaining wall and forward along the other of said tracks in engagement with said partition wall as the lever is oscillated and'tosnap radially' from the ltrack on-the insulated member to the track on the conducting member at the limitof the movement of the lever in one direction and to snap olf the .partition wall laterally from the track on the conducting member to the track on the insulated member 'at the limit of the movement of the lever in the opposite direction.

`a partition wall both projecting radially be 2. An electrically controlled clock winding mechanism including in combination 'a frame, a main spring #winding lever, mechanical and electrical means for oscillating i the lever,"a switch moun'tedon Athe hub of the leverfcomprising insulated and conduct-v in members having separated tracks, the insu ated memberl having a retaining wall and Iyond both tracks, and a spring contact arm arranged to travel back along one of said tracks in engagement with said retaining wall and Lforward 4along the other of said tracks in engagement withsaid partition .wall as the leverlis oscillated and to snap `radially from thetrack on the insulated 'member tothe track on the conducting member at the-limit 0f the movement of the lever in one direction and to snap ott' the partition wall laterally from the track on the conduct! ing melrlmr te the track on the insulated member at 'tpe xl'mit of the movement of the lever in the opposite direction, and means for adjusting the spring contact arm longitudinal 3.yAn electrically controlled clock winding mechanism including in combination a frame, a main spring winding lever, mechanical and electrical means for oscillating the lever, a switch mounted on the hub of i the lever, comprising insulated and conducting members having separated tracks, the insulated member having a retaining wall and a partition wall, a spring contact arm arranged to travel back and forth along said tracks in engagement with said retainlng s and partition walls, as the lever is oscillated, and to snap'radially from the track on the insulated member tothe track on the conducting member at the limit of the movement of the lever in one direction and to snap laterally from the track on the conducting member to the track on the insulated member at the limit of the movement of the lever in the opposite' direction, .means `for adjusting 'the spring contact' arm 'longitudinally, and means for lockingit in such adjustment.

4. An electrically controlled clock winding mechanism including in combination a frame comprising front and back plates and a bottom plate, a main spring winding lever, a suspended weight and a sus ended arma-r dayof April 1912. y

NATHAN FRIEDMAN.l Vitnesses:

l F. -GEORGE BARRY, s HENRY C. .Tianaia'rt` 

